The import-substituted Superjet has set forth on its “ice” testing. The aircraft created by United Aircraft Corporation has arrived from Zhukovsky to Arkhangelsk, having covered about 1,200 kilometers in 1 hour and 40 minutes. Here, the aircraft will perform certification test flights in natural icing conditions.
During the program, operation of aircraft systems and equipment will be tested during ice formation on structural members. This is one of the mandatory aircraft certification stages. For parameter recording, the aircraft will be fitted with special equipment, including sensors and video recording cameras.
“Completion of this test program will allow us to estimate the anti-icing system performance in real conditions and to prove that the aircraft is safe for operation in natural icing conditions,” said Denis Velizhanin, flight operator and lead flight test engineer.
Many kilometers of certification flights, in particular, in the north polar region, are behind the wings of the advanced airliners. All systems and equipment made by Russian manufacturers, including domestic PD-8 engines produced by United Engine Corporation, demonstrate steady operation.
